Influenza vaccinations to risk groups will be given at vaccination points

The autumn’s seasonal influenza vaccinations 6–10 Novemberwill be centralised to four different vaccination points.

The vaccination points are

Hopeatie service centre/Pohjois-Haaga service centre, Hopeatie 14

Kamppi Service Centre, Salomonkatu 21 B

Kustaankartano comprehensive service centre, Kivalterintie 16

Liikuntamylly, Jauhokuja 3.

Vaccinations are free of charge and will be given on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30am–6pm and on Friday 8:30am–3pm.

At vaccination points, vaccinations will be mainly given to the people who are at risk due to an illness (all age groups), over 65-year-olds, family and friends of people vulnerable to severe cases of influenza as well as both male and female conscripts.

The influenza vaccinations of mothers and under 3-year-old children are given at maternity and child health clinics

At the clinics, pregnant mothers and children aged between 6 to 35 months will be vaccinated against seasonal influenza in connection with clinic appointments.

Open maternity and child health clinics offer vaccinations to clinic patients without appointment on weekdays 6–17 November 8:30am–10:30am and on 8 and 15 November also between 4pm and 6pm.

Wed 4pm–6pm in all maternity and child health clinics, excluding Jakomäki, Suutarila and Puistola clinics, the evening reception of which is at the Malmi clinic, and Paloheinä clinic, the evening reception of which is at the Maunula clinic.

Influenza is a respiratory infection that may cause serious sequelaes and lead to hospitalisation. The most effective method against the disease is an influenza vaccination. By taking the vaccination, you can also protect those around you.

Who should take the vaccination in particular? Who are included in the risk groups?

The influenza vaccination protects, above all, people who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, chronic liver or kidney disease, or chronic neurological diseases, as well as cancer patients. The vaccination also offers protection to seniors (over 65-year-old people) and patients that are given treatment that weakens their resistance to diseases.

Influenza can cause pneumonia, requiring serious hospital treatment, in these groups. These risk groups are protected more effectively by also giving the vaccination to the people close to them.

Additionally, the vaccination is recommended to pregnant women (which also gives an indirect protection to the new-born child), under 3-year-old children (6–35 months) and conscripts. If there is a new-born baby in the family, for example, also those close to the child, such as family members, are given the influenza vaccination free of charge.

“The new Communicable Diseases Act requires nursing staff to take the influenza vaccination. The vaccination protects healthy people well. In the group of healthy, working age people, the vaccination will prevent 5 to 8 influenza cases out of 10,” says Hannele Kotilainen.

Further information on vaccinations in Helsinki will be available on our website starting from 13 October on page influenssarokotus.hel.fi and from Health guidance services, tel. 09 310 10023 (24 h).

School children can have their influenza vaccination at vaccination points or at school health care. Parents should make an appointment with the school health nurse.

Students can be vaccinated at vaccination points or at the educational institution’s health care. The institutions will inform about their vaccination dates and practices.

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